Mast distributing apparatus



1932- J. E. BUSHNELL MAST DISTRIBUTING APPARATUS Original Filed Feb. 21, 1928 h wwm 351 A GHQ 014mg Patented Dec. 27, 1932 PATENT rice JAI'IES E. BUSHNELL, OF NORTH PLAINFIELD, NEW JERSEY, ASSILGNOPU TO RANSOME CONCRETE MACHINERY GOMEPANY, OF ILA OF NEW JERSEY INFIELD, NEW JERSEY, A CORPORATION MAST DISTRIBUTING APPARATUS Original application filed February 21, 1928, Serial No. 255,894. Divided and this application filed April 11, 1930; Serial No. 443,270.

The present application is a division of my copending application filed February 21, 1928, Serial No. 255,894 now Patent No. 1,754,815 grant-ed April 15, 1930. s

The improvements relate primarily to gravity distribution plants wherein loose material such as mixed concrete is hoisted in vertically moving buckets and deposited in chutes or other conduits at various elevations, on a mast or tower, for gravity distribution to the point of placement. As is well known, such plants are constructed and arranged so that the ma erials may be raised and chuted to any portion of the building or other construction, as the work progresses.

Containers or buckets of any desired type may be employed, while means are provided for dischar ing same at desired elevations. Likewise hoppers, discharge chutes and other means may be provided about the mast, as may be deemed necessary, any or all of which are adapted to be moved or adjusted for performing their various functions.

A primary object, among others, of the improvements, is to provide a novel mast or tower construction of the type indicated, wherein adjustment or movement of the elements is facilitated and insured. A further object is to provide an improved cable arrangement for the movable elements, and means wherein the cables, commonly employed, are not only protected but also are positioned for freedom of operation without interfering or becoming entangled with elements of the mast.

Other objects will be apparent to those skilled in the art upon reference to the accompanying specification and drawing, in which Fig. 1 is a side elevation of a mast plant embodying the present improvements, parts being broken away;

Fig. 2 is a plan View of the mast, parts being broken away.

Referring to the drawing, two elevating buckets 10 and 11 are mounted for vertical travel on the mast or tower 5 for discharge into the hopper or bin 12. In the present embodiment, the buckets 10 and 11 are pivotally mounted in frame 16, which extends a substantial distance beyond the sides of the mast. A cable 17, leading from a power means (not shown), is trained over suitable sheaves 18, 19 and 20 on the mast, whence it is connected to the carriage 16, whereby the carriage and buckets may be elevated and lowered. Sliding movement throughout the height of the mast is facilitated by the provision of rollers 21.

The hopper or bin. 12, for receiving materials from buckets l0 and 11, is suitably supported on frame 13 mounted on the mast and vertically adjustable therealong by means of a cable 2'? leading from a power means (not shown) and trained over sheaves 28, 29 and 30, whence it is connected to the hopper frame. The frame is provided with shoes 22, although rollers or other suitable means may be employed. For further details of the con,- struction thus far described,'reference may be had to the aforementioned copending application.

Referring more particularly to the mast 5, the same comprises uprights Gin the form of channel members positioned with respect to one another as illustrated in Fig. 2, all braced and secured by the usual lacing or diagonal bra es 6, as is common in the art. Suitable guy ropes or cables may be employed for eteadying the mast and maintaining same erect. Extending perpendicularly from the rear of each channel member is a longitudinal rib 7 which may be integrally cast with its respective channel member, or fabricated by securing an angle bar thereto by rivetin welding or othermeans. These ribs 7, as illustrated, extend toward one another. on two sides of the mast or tower'and may form the supports for the diagonal braces on those sides. As illustrated the ribs 7 are suitably spaced from the outer limits of their respective channels 6. Upon reference to Fig. 2, said ribs are positioned at approximately the longitudinal axis of their channels and afford, with the channels and lacing, recesses 8 and 9 extending the entire height of the tower or mast. Protective spaces are thus provided for housing the sheaves, cables, etc, of the hoisting or other mechanism. The cables are thus disposed between the diagonal Vwhile the cables 17 and 27, employedin hoisting the buckets and hopper, are disposed in the recesses or bays provided in the faces of the mast. It is thus manifest, that the cables are housed against the possibility of entanglement or interference by other elements of the mast and yet'are free and accessible from the exterior. Other cables 37 are illustrated and may be employed for elevating or lowering hoist platforms, boom supports, .etc. (not shown).

Various modifications within the scope of the present improvements may be apparent to those skilled in the art, and may be made Without departing from the purview of the invention; r I claim: r

1.. In a device of the character described, the combination of an upright mast having spaced vertical tracks, a movable element thereon, connections between said tracks dea fining a recess facing outwardly with respect to the mast, cable means for moving said element, a portion of said means being disposed in the recess between said tracks. 7

'2. In a device of the character described, the combination of an upright mast having spaced vertical tracks, a plurality of movable elements thereon, connections between said tracks defining a recess facing outwardly with respect tothe mast, cable means for moving said elements, a portion of said means being disposed within said recess.

3. In a device'of the character described, the combination of pairs of an upright mast having spaced vertical tracks, elements movable along each pair of tracks, connections between tracks of a pair defining recesses facing outwardly with respect to the mast, cable meansfor moving each element, a portion of said means being disposed in said recesses.

said housing means extending throughout the height of the mast.

6. In a mast 0f the character described, a plurality of upright members being substantially T-shaped in cross section, the legs of the T members being adjacent and connected with lacing, the area defined by said lacing and-heads of the T members being adapted to receive-cables.

' 7. A mast having four upright corner members, a vertically traveling hoist bucket on one face of the mast and movable throughout the height thereof, a cable for moving said bucket, said mast face having a recess extending throughout the height thereof for accommodating said cable, and a portion of said cable disposed 'insaid recess.

Vit-ness my hand h s 9th day of April, 1980, county of Middlesex, State of New Jersey.

JAMES E. BUSHNELL.

4:. A mast plant having four upright corner members, a vertically traveling hoist carriage on .one face of the mast, .a vertically adjustable hopper on another face thereof, cable 'means'for moving said elements, and housing means in the mast face for portions of said cable means. V

,5. A mast plant having four upright corner members, a vertically traveling hoist bucket on one face of the mast and movable through out the height thereof, cable means for moving said bucket, and housing means in the mast face for portions of said cable means, 

